Chaparral2f

["you've got a country thats torn the fark up from post colonialism, it also happens to have a great deal of natural resources that the developed world needs/wants. if your the US and your businesses need the cheapest possible materials so they can build things as cheap as possible, are you going to institute fair labor laws there? "] Sounds like an historical rationalization for what we fought a war to erradicate in the mid 19th century. it is hypocracy to follow this line of thinking, and then look around at the rest of the world and say "Gee, I wonder why everyone hates us."

The local pick and pay jy quoted me a price of $100 for a complete T-Bird 8.8 inch IRS. Anyone have any experience with one of these? Joe

You have a job making widjits that sell for $400 and you are making $10 per hour. The company owner finds that he can set up shop in the third world where the person doing your $10 job only makes 15 cents. Do you actually think that the cost of the widjit is going to come down? When is the last time you bought a pair of Nikes made in asia by low paid workers? Cheap weren't they?? Lets face it, companies are going to pocket the savings, and and avoid corperate taxes, leaving them for us to pay... if we could only find a good American job Lots of people deride the labor movement, but if it weren't for unions we would all be working 14 hour days and none of us would be able to play with our cars.

Could that be a Rodec, or a Donavon or some other aluminum block? I know it would still be heavy, but boy would it be expensive.

I want it! Even though there are a lot of high hp cars on this site that weigh 2700 lb, having that elephant engine in the middle of the car must make it stick like its on tracks . For what its worth, the hemi was rated at 425 hp, but the same engine out of a crate (the Marine version) was rated at 525 hp. The problem with putting an Eldorado or Toronado in the trunk is that you basicly end up with a rear engine car. Most of the weight is behind the axels. They would be great for traction, but the steering would really push. What is really neat though is that all the weight is on the drive tires. with a shift kit, and all the cusions taken out of the clutch packs in the tranny, the toronado with the 400 hp 455 would literally rip the sidewalls out of the tires.

The boots on the steering rack of my z31 need to be replaced. Since I need both arms to work on the car, and two legs to just get around, the price that the local Nissan dealer wants is out of the question. (An arm and a leg) Is there any less expensive way to go? Does someone make aftermarket parts? Joe

Jonn, thanks for the information. that's what I needed to know. All the things that you don't learn at their website. Joe

Nothing like a little domestic violence.

I am using a TH350 and since it doesn't have an overdrive I wonder if any one has had any experience with a Franklind quick change. It seems like a good way to go, to get gears tall enough to drive on the road, and still be able to change the ratio to still race when the urge calls. Joe

Talk about Eco friendly, all those mods are recyclable when styles change. One thing though, wouldn't it have been better to have used cardboard from Uncle Ben's Instant Rice?

Actually, it is an engine brake of sorts, but it isn't a Jake brake (Jacobson Copmpression brake). Its an exhaust brake. Basically, it just shuts off the exhaust. On the other hand, a Jake brake is a compression brake that holds the valves closed, effectivly turning the engine into an air compressor. The exhaust brake is quieter, it doesn't retard very much. The Jake is a much bettter system, but in comparison, it is really noisey. For what it's worth, IMO the best system is used by Catapillar, and is a hydraulic engine retard. It works like a large torque converter and its only drawback is that it weighs a lot. Joe

Its a good thing to see a smile on a z. I think it looks nice agree that it would sell, but I couldn't use it.(Z31) Now if only I could find something for the front of my 300

Tim, What I have actually done is to mark the holes where things like overflow tanks and washer fluid tanks go and am filling the rest. Thanks for the post, its nice to know that others are going through this too.

I started welding up all the holes in the firewall and wheelwells on the zx yesterday just to make it look better. The process involves, grind the paint of around the hole, weld it shut, grind it off, dimple it in with a hammer, then smooth it with bondo. I've been molding Harleys for more than forty years, so I have a lot of experience doing this kind of work. Unfortunatly, the old memory seems to have failed me, as I forgot how much I dislike filling holes, grinding, and sanding. Now I'm too far into it to just say, I like the look of all those holes in the engine compartment, so I have no choice but to finish this part of the project. I also must have forgotten how to count, I have seen tennis reckets that had fewer holes in them than Nissan punched in my car. Joe

I put a v-8 in my zx, so I guess that I'm gonna be allowed to stay . But IMHO I think that the sixers contribute a lot of info to the site, and by excluding them we will be no different than the others that are so purist that there is very little that is useful there. Besides, I thought that this site had built up a good reputation for tolerance and acceptance.

Thanks for the info. I'm have an electric water pump, and there seems to be quite a bit of room around it. I will be setting the engine back as far as I can to keep the weight dist as close as I can. I'll get an aftermarket fuel pump. I've been thinking about it anyway because I have Kinser stack injection taking up shelf space while I do research on using it. As for the hood clearance I am running a Vertex mag and the velocity stacks on the injection are pretty tall so I am going to a cowl induction hood. Joe

I have a set from thermal tech on my 350. They were inexpensive, and the service is really good. I highly recomend them.

Dr Buddha, Welcome to Hybrid Z. Its good to know that there's another z31 here, there aren't manyof us . Post some pics I'd love to see them!! I have a lot of room, because I lost a lot of the stuff that I didn't need. (Cruise control, engine wiring harness, Fan shroud, etc.) plus I moved the battery to the back lost the clutch. I'm welding up all the screw holes in the fender wells. I think I'm going to take the mounts off the crosmember and turn them around so they are further forward. My engine may have to sit a little bit forward since the wires come out of the back of the Magneto. Looks like the most expensive thing left to do is the exhaust system. I may have it dump in front of the rear wheels. Do you have cooling problems? What did you do for a radiator? Oh, one more thing . Will the stock z fuel pump supply enough gas for a 350? Joe

Just did the first test fit of the 350 in my z31. Gawd, I didn't think there was gonna be so much room. I coulda built a big block! The Mag and the air cleaner won't clear the hood, but everything else seems to have plenty of room. Even my wife thinks it looks good.

How about some more pics of that z31? I love the zoomies hanging out from under the fender.

God, I love California! It's truly the entertainment capital of the world. Too bad this little sitcom ends next week. Oh well maybe someone should start a recall Swartzie movement. I am sure glad that I live in Oregon.

Those are really funny, unless you have to deal with that mentality every day. saw this on a pin: Dyslexics [sp?] of the world Untie!

Are you trying to say that sometimes things actually go according to plan??

It seems to me that some time ago, someone on here posted an ebay link to one with a rear mounted Allison aircraft engine. Of course I may be just be halucinating

I'm getting ready to pull the V-6 out of the ZX, and want to loose the wiring harness that goes with it. The problem is that inside both fenders, just in front of the firewall are what looks to me like relays, and other little unknown boxes. There is also some kind small control box mounted under the battery box. I don't have even the slightest idea what any of them are for. My old friends, Mr. Chilton and Mr. Haines don't seem to give a crap and refuse to tell me about them. I don't want to have to completely strip the car and w;ire it from scratch. HALP!!!! joe